Type 1 Heredity?

Does anyone know what the likelihood of passing on type 1 diabetes is? I have read in places that it is considered non-hereditary, due to it being an auto-immune disorder, but recently my endocrinologist told me that since I have two auto-immune disorders (diabetes and thyroid issues), my children have a 25% chance of getting it as well. So now I'm paranoid. I have a two year old and one on the way…I don't want them to have to deal with this!

13 replies

HI AGAIN…I'm sorry…I have a fever and I am a little bit disoriented. I reread your situation, and in my strong opinion, they probably will not get diabetes. 25% is only one fourth a chance. If they get it, my strong opinion is they would get type 2 diabetes, not type 1…again, I could be wrong, but, children get type 2 also…or, they might get it later on in their adulthood——ANNE

I have known some people in families where the father had type 1, then 1 or 2 of his kids got it. I am not a doctor, but my own opinion of autoimmune is that it all depends on if the children have a lower resistance to a major flu or cold. I think type 1 is genetic and also caused by a huge destruction of beta cells…why they get destroyed nobody knows. I had a HUGE fever/flu, and cold when I was 8 years old, and I have never been the same since. However, I was flagged in my birth hospital record as a strong possibility of being diabetic when I as born. In my case, the genetics were already there without a doubt——both my parents are/were diabetic, plus every single female on one side of my family had type 2, with my great grandmother they think was probably type 1 insulin dependent. I honestly think it's genetic predisposition, then a huge virus attacks, or something related. However, some kids are born insulin dependent immediately…that I am not sure at all as to why it happens…that sounds genetic to me, too…ANNE

Here are links to an ezine article and an ADA article that you might find helpful and reassuring: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-is-Diabetes-Inh... andhttp://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genet...It's not as clearcut as your doctor led you to believe.I just googled "inheriting diabetes" and came across these two articles…I'm sure there's more out there…don't you just love this information age! Mays actually cited this ADA article in a discussion a year ago…search the DC discussions for "genetics and diabetes" . I'm sending you a paragraph from the ADA article that may tie in more closely to what your doctor was saying…Hugs,Lou

Thanks for the info…interesting stuff. I guess I am just paranoid. I don't want to be the mom who pokes her kids fingers every time they get a little bit hyperactive, but let's face it…I probably am that mom. LOL

Interesting…I suspect that my Dad actually had Type 2 because he was 62 when it was diagnosed…but I don't think oral meds had been available to him back then. In any case, this is reassuring info for RebC.

Now I wish I would have posted that info here at DC as soon as I read it :( Neither of my parents have T1 or T2; as far back as both can recall, no family members had T1 and only 2 had T2 (Dads side) so the odds of actually getting it are anyones guess

Type 1 diabetics, statiscally make up only about 10% of the diabetes population. My Dad developed diabetes when he was in his early 60's in the mid-1950's. I'm not sure whether he would have been classified as a Type 1 or Type 2 but I think the only treatment back then was for him to take insulin. I know of no other family members with diabetes (besides me). Thyroid disease seems to be very prevalent in us diabetics. I have it too. While I think there is a genetic component, I don't think they really know what triggers the auto-immune response that destroys our insulin-producing beta cells. Do your offspring have a higher chance of developing diabetes?…perhaps but I wouldn't let the doctor's injudicious comment rattle me…I like James' approach that even if the 25% chance is accurate (and I'm not certain it is), that still means they have a 75% chance of not getting it. When are you due?

My cousin's daughter is also due with her second child in April. She is the closest thing to a daughter I will ever have since I never gave birth. It's not so far away, is it? Hope all is going well for you and baby and family.

i have been passed eery issue my mother had so far,Diabetes,and heart disease, but we also lived similar life styles,do the best you can with a healthy life and eating style,that would be my advice,and take it from there,no one really knows what our gene pool is going to hand us